Toy building construction



sept. 20,1932. E. c. BREESER 1,878,373

' TOY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 16, 1931 ,fo LQ@ DQODQGD FICIf 14,@ (l 0 @U O DE FICIZ T iO R E m RR mno. EC w 5D @LE [JIL Il. G. l El BYW A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 2 0, 1.932vl EDWIN C. BREESER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA TOY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Application led July 1.6, 1931.

My invention relates to structural units and it has been my particular object to 1mpr'ove the design of such units as utilized m toy construction sets. Such sets as now sold on the market embody a large variety of metal forms adapted to coact with other metal forms in various ways to produce a desired design. The person desiring to produce a structure of a certain kind therefore chooses the proper complemental units and secures them together in the `fabrication of that design. In this connection, however, considera-ble diiiiculty is encountered 1n the attempt to find complemental parts in a container in which a large number of partsare received. The attempt to obtain the deslred co-actingcouple for a given use is sometimes like hunting for a needle in the proverbial o haystack and the object of this lnvention has been to obviate this dificult'y by aiording provision for the securement of certain parts which co-act in the finished structures to each other when the structures are disassembled.

The manner in which I have attained this object will be apparent from a reading of the sub-joined specification in the light of the attached drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of one of the co-acting structural units formed4 in accordance with my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a similar View of a structural unit adapted to co-act with the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view illustrating the 35 connection between parts of Figs. 1- and 2.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation illustrating the invention as applied to two co-aeting parts of slightly different shapes.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed transverse section illustrating a slightly different type of joint.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through structural units connected in accordance with the modification of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a slightly dier- `ent type of connection.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 10 illus- Serial N0. 551,097.

trating the parts in their collapsed condition, and l Fig. 12 is a section Fig. 1l..

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have illustrated a pair of complemental structure units at l0 and 1l. Fach of these units is provided with a series of openings 18 adapted to register and receive complemental threaded parts 12 to secure the units together in extended relationship as indicated in Fig. 3. In accordance with my invention I provide special means independent of the threaded securing means .12 for holding the parts together when disassembled. I have thus formed a pair of longitudinally extending slots in the opposite sides of the unit 11 and struck out tabs of metal 15 from the body of the strip 1() adapted to re ister with these slots and afford a sliding t between the members 10 and 1l and prevent their accidental disconnection.l In the manufacture and assembly of the `unit of Fig. 3 I lirst turn the tabs 15 upwardly in a vertical direction and pass them through the slots 14. I thereafter turn the tabs laterally to lock the parts together. Fig. 4 illustrates the application of this same type of joint to a pair of curvilinear members 16, and 17. I

In the use of the joint as described above $50' the ,telescoping structural units needonly be extended to the desired adjusted position and a threaded connection 12 established therebetween. When the structure is disassembled the threaded connection will of $5 course bev removed, but the complemental parts cannot become completely disassembled because of the'tab and groove connection 14, 15. When it is desired to form another structure utilizing the particular pair of complemental parts involved, they will accordingly be found together in the container which receives them when not in use. c

In Figs. 6 to 8 I have illustrated a sli htly di Herent form of connection involving a ovetail shaped groove 18 co-acting with a doveon'the line 12-12 of tail locking member 19. This locking member constitutes a portionV of a rivet which is pcened over at the end opposite the dove-tail head after the parts areassembled. In the lo assembly of complemental parts of this type the dove-tail head 19 is inserted within the oove 18 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8 and thereafter rotated to full line position to lock the members together. The rivet may then be peened over as indicated at 20 in en it is desired to produce a connection affording a high degree of strength, the modication o f Figs. 9 to 12 is preferable. In this form Iemploy a pair of complemental struc;- tural units 21 and 22 and form flanges upon the opposite side edges of the unit 21 which are turned over the edges of the unit 22 as indicated at 25. I also form a resilient tab 23 in the unit 21 which is pressed inwardly and adapted to co-act with a short slot 24 in the unit 22 in securing the members together when not in use. There is no co-action between the resilient tab 23 and the slot 24 when the parts are in use. Before they are placed in the container, however, they are forced to the registering position of Fig. 11 in which the co-action between the tab 23 and slot 24 prevents the parts from being accidentally longitudinally displaced. As the turned-over edges'25 prevent relative lateral movement of the parts they will be yieldably secured to each other as they are received in the container. When it is desired to utilize these parts in the production of a structural design a moderate degree of force will affect the longitudinal displacement and they may be extended as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10 and joined by a screw threaded connection as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 9.

It will thus be seen that in accordance with all of the modifications of my invention I have provided adequate means for preventing the loss of complemental parts as placed in the container which receives them when not in use.

Modiiications will be obvious to those skilled inthe art and I do not therefore wish .to be limited exceptby the scope of my subjoined claims as interpreted in the light of the genericspirit of my invention.

What I claim is: 1. A structural couple for use in toy building construction includin two complementa] structural units, means or fiXedly securing said units togetherl in operative relationship when in use, and separate means for holding them together when not in use, a portion of said last named means being permanently associatedwith one of said units.

2. A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complemental structural units, and means for securing said units together in operative relationship, and

separate means for resiliently holding them together when not in use, a portion of said last named means being formed integrally with one of said units..

3. A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complemental structural units, one of said units having edges turned about the side edges of the other of said units, whereby to afford a telescoping sliding fit between said units, and means f or securing said units against undesired relative longitudinal movement when not in use. 0

4. A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complemental structural units, one of said units having edges turned about the side edges of the other of said units, whereby to aEord a telescoping sliding lit between said units, and yieldable means for securing said units against undesired relative longitudinal movement when not in use.

5. A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complementa-l structural units, one of said units having edges turned about the side edges of the other of said units, whereby to alford a telescoping sliding fit between said units, and a resilient tongue and groove connection between said units for securing said units against undey sired relative longitudinal movement when not in use.

6. A structural couple for use in toy buildingconstruction including two complemental structural units, andl means for securing said units together in operative relationship, one of said units having its edges turned about the longitudinal edges of the other to provide a Vlongitudinal telescoping relationship between said units.

7 A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complemental structural units, means for securing said units together in operative relationship, and means for securing said units together in inoperative relationship, said last named means constituting a permanent part of one of said units.

8. A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complemental structural units one of said units boing slotted and the other of said units being provided with a tongue which enters into said slot to afford a sliding relationship between said units. l Y

9. A structural couple for use in toy building construction including two complemental structural units, and a stud Secured-toene of said structural units, the other of said units being provided with an elongated groove adapted to receive said stud to permanently i interconnect said units.

10. A metallic structure comprising a plurality of structural units, means for securing said units together 1n extended relationship, separate means for securing said units together in collapsed relationship, said last signature.

` EDWIN C. BREESER. 

